Parties Books

I read this book ages ago and thought it was awesome. But, recently I bought it to read to my 9 year-old as she is beginning her living history career as "Patty Reed". What a wonderful book. It really shows what life and hardship are all about, but done in such am engaging yet non-violent way. I cannot recommend this book enough! It ought to be required reading in school.

I read this book in 1964 as a 4th grader in Northern California learning state history. I have never forgotten Patty or her doll (which used to be on display at Sutter's Fort). When my children were small it was not in print and I am so happy to see it is again. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know about American history from a totally different perspective. That of a little wooden doll, chosen amongst many beautiful sisters, to make a rough trip in the pocket of her owner. You will never forget Patty Reed, or her doll, I know I haven't. I am buying the book to keep to read and to my grandchildren.

This is an excellent book that is based on fact and actually sticks very close to the true facts. It is hard to put down once you start it. Our 6 year old granddaughter loved the book, as I did also. I highly recommend it for both children and adults, even though it is written for elementary age children.

Patty Reed's Doll is an excellent account of the Donner Party and all the other families that were part of the Donner Tragedy.The book describes the families in such detail you feel like you're traveling with them. The Reeds are one of the families that are traveling with the Donner Party. The story is an excellent way to teach elementary school children as well as adults what trailblazing was really like and the severe hardships that went with it. As an elementary school teacher I highly recommend this book. It is an asset to studying California history.

This is a beautifully written book that captures the plight of pioneers traveling west. My fourth grade students really gain a sense of what life was like once upon a time. Great book!!...

What a wonderful, helpful book. I don't know these ladies personally, but I am proud to call them my sisters. Everyone knows Phi Mus throw the best parties!

Wow. And, thought "growing up" and writing a book on how to create pockets of joy every single day was extending my college giddiness as far as one possibly could!
As the President of Ohio University's Alpha Xi Delta Chapter ('84), I wholeheartedly applaud everything about this book. My book helps women to realize that every day can be a celebration, and Deandra Brooks' book tells them how to do it with style. Perfect.

As a young professional who enjoys entertaining & misses all of her friends being together all the time, this is a great book! It is full of creative ways to have a great time without digging deep into your pockets. The book is light hearted and can easily be used by anyone, but cherished by the true sorority girls!

Not only did this book take the stress out of planning any party, but it made me laugh! You can read this for fun, or for planning your latest shindig. I found that the recipes highlighted for the various parties can be mixed and matched for any occasion. Who knew I could throw a party for the Kentucky Derby? The party plans outlined in the book are easy to follow, use easy to find ingredients, and are not expensive to create. Also, the additional commentary, lists and suggestions are helpful in preparation for the party as well as making you laugh! I highly recommend this book for anyone, sorority and non-sorority girls (& guys!) alike!

I was in a sorority as a collegiate and we threw and attended some great parties in my day. As a result, I knew how to throw a great party and keep with a theme, but had some trouble coming up with ice breakers that weren't cheesy but still managed to help my guests mingle and get to know each other. Thanks to Morgan and Brooksie, I have some great ones now! I especially loved their ideas for the New Year's Martini bash (Happy New Martini!).

Opening with 'Tips and Guidelines for Catering Your Own Party', "Southern Scrumptious" by Betty Sims draws upon her more than 30 years of expertise and expertise in cooking, catering, baking, and restaurant ownership to compose what is an ideal combination of instruction manual and cookbook for planning parties and menus for any occasion. Aspiring hostesses are provided with a year's worth of complete menus; invaluable tips for hosts and hostesses; recipes for time-stressed party givers; as well as culinary ideas for spring luncheons, summer picnics, and holiday dining. From Sour Cream Cornbread; Wilted Spinach and Bacon Salad; Baked Ham with Sugar Glaze; and Red Onion Marmalade; to Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese Soup; Chicken Supreme Casserole; Garlic Pickles; and Lemon Poppy Seed Shortbread Bars, "Southern Scrumptious" provides recipes that are elegant, palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, gourmet quality, thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly'. Certain to become a favorite menu planning reference, "Southern Scrumptious" is a very highly recommended addition to both personal and community library cookbook collections.

If I could offer only one southern cook book as an example of the best of the old southern and new southern cooking I would give this one to my friends...either "Yankees" or other visitors. I have used selections with just family and formal dining in Europe, with novice cooks and experienced professional chefs and I always get rave reviews. Buy this one.

This is a great cookbook that every cook should have. The recipes are great and so are the menus.

By all means buy this cookbook! My sisters and I hosted a bridal shower for 30 guests and totally copied the Buffet Dinner with Friends menu. It turned out beautifully. I have tried several other recipes and all have been outstanding. Ms. Sims gives thorough directions for all the recipes and helps with pre-party planning. You will turn to this cookbook first when you want something special.

If you are looking for a recipe book with fail proof recipes for any ocassion, this is the book. Betty Simms makes having a party easy with her delicious recipes and simple ideas. One of the most hectic things about any party is finding the right menu and then pulling everything together- this book will do the trick. There is not one recipe or idea that is not wonderful (we've tried them all)-- use this book for your next party and everyone will be talking about what a wonderful cook and hostess you are! Betty has other books out and they are all just as excellent!

I found Suz's book to be especially handy when planning a party for all ages. The writing is clear and easy to understand. Even my kids can read this and get party ideas. Thanks for a great party reference guide.

The book has some great ideas for favors and how to set the mood. However, some ideas seemed out of date or just plain odd. One was to throw a teenagers birthday party in a mall having a treasure hunt. I just found this weird. What mall is going to let you do that and I am not going to send teenagers to the mall unsupervised while searching for clues to a treasure hunt.

Suzanne's artistic book eliminates the uneasiness of coming up with imaginative ideas and themes for celebrations of every occasion. The book includes everything I need to have a party. I can not wait to host my next event!!

You can tell that the author of this book is a real "party animal"! Her enthusiasm is contagious. I do not have children of my own, but I have two nephews who will certainly benefit from Suzanne Singleton's expertise when their birthdays come around. I think the book is well thought out and will guide me all through the party planning process from invitations to thank you notes and everywhere in between (love the recipes and illustrations!). Thanks, Suzanne for sharing.

There were many new party ideas that I had not yet heard about, and honestly some I had forgotten about. This book is extremely detail oriented and very well thought out. HONESTLY, what parent of teenagers has not been at a loss as to how and what to do for a teenage birthday party? For this section alone CLEVER PARTY PLANNING is worth the purchase! This is Suzanne's second book and to date her best, we look forward to her future titles!

I just love this cookbook! I have given it to several people including those just really learning to cook-it's beautifully illustrated and just has so many good "tips". The desserts especially are just delicious and many can be prepared ahead of time.

Cooking Class: A Chef's Step-By-Step Guide To Stress-Free Dinner Parties That Are Simply Elegant! by Carol Dearth (a chef formally trained in a Master Chef program at Le Cordon Bleu in London), is a superbly illustrated guide to creating masterpieces with professional techniques, not only for bringing out flavor, but also for garnishing and presentation. The full-color photographs, the extensive instructions, and the unique extra touches highlighting culinary creations, make for an excellent and confident introduction to expanding any kitchen chef's cooking skills into the realm of high society quality cuisine. From Lemon Linguini with Fresh Tomato Sauce and Grilled Chicken; Eggplant Fans with Onion Marmalade; and Basil and Ricotta Tart; to Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Crostini; Black Bean Salsa; and Truly Decadent Chocolate Sauce, Cooking Class truly lives up to the promise of "do-it-yourself" culinary elegance and memorable dining!

I bought this book after seeing the author on a local cooking show. I am so impressed with the layout, pictures and plans...it's just what I've been waiting for as a cook. She lays out in detail a menu and what you are doing with the food 3 days ahead of the party, 2 days, etc up until the day of the dinner party. It really takes the stress out of having people over for a fine meal.

My family has been fortunate enough to be guests at the Dearth table on more than one occasion. Carol is a terrific cook and teacher. Her book is the result of many years of studying, experimenting and teaching. She has designed her book to be used year round, and has made planning a dinner party easy from start to finish. All you have to do is invite your guests, pick a menu, follow her Master Work Plan and relax. You almost feel like she has done the bulk of the work for you!! P.S. The food presentation in the photos is beautiful and makes you hungry just to look at it.

I have made several of Carol's recipes and they were easy to make and oh so delicious--especially the Molten Chocolate Cakes! Yum!!

Carol's sidebars are very imformative. Her explanations make so much sense and are therefore easy to remember.

This book makes entertaining easy and less stressful because Carol takes you by the hand and guides you all the way through. I would recommend Cooking Class to anyone who enjoys cooking.

Anyone who thinks life was better in times past should read this book. It is about the Donner party, a group of midwesterners who hoped on the frontier trail to California, only to face misery, hardship and death in numerous forms. In one case, a young boy breaks his leg, and dies in agony following a makeshift operation. In another a sick man is left to die on the trail, unable to keep up. And the party had to deal with hostile Indians and unsavory characters as well. It was a time when travel to the West coast from New York could be done faster by sea than overland.

I am a bit new to the Donner story so I can't compare Limburg's telling to other books on the adventure. But it certainly kept me reading. One could almost feel the optimism present in April when the group set out, and then the agravation and, ultimately, fear and despair. The reader will ask himself what he would have done in the situation, glad all the while for the comforts of modern life.

I, like everyone else, thinks of one thing when thinking about the Donner Party--canabalism. There were many wagon trains headed west in the years just before the Civil War that never made it, or suffered terrible hardship, but it is the Donner group that we all remember. Author Peter Limburg has done a marvelous job separating the sensationalism from the facts, and writes a poignant tale of people, just like us, looking for a better life in a new place. I always appreciate a book that solidly puts me in a different time and place--this book didn't disappoint.

I think people are a bit confused here. The story of the Donner Party is gripping, intense, chilling, gruesome etc etc. It is an incredible story that has survived for a reason. We can applaud Limburg for not ruining that for us - the book is a page turner that I finished in a sitting, however, Limburg's writing was not the reason. Frankly, "Deceived" is a poorly written account that merely spews the research of others into an easy to read format. The book contains far more flat, unnamed characters than can be digested and lets many plot lines drop away without a thought.

You'll note that most books about the Donner party are given rave reviews (probably for the reason I just suggested). I recommend that you look for another book on the subject as there must be better.

From Marisa D'Vari, author of "Script Magic" Sure, travel is difficult ... but count your lucky stars you're not traveling over a hundred years ago, when the travelers were not at the mercy of surly airline attendants but nature's elements. I became fascinated with the Donner party in a fourth grade history class in California, and am not surprised that Limburg's story continues to grip me. An excellent read!

I was fascinated by the detailed unfolding story of the famous Donner Party and how they got to the state that has made their name legend in the field of horror and disaster. With more than 45 photos and illustrations this book was I'm sure the most thourough treatment of this story.

If you only read one book about the Donner Party, make it this one! The Donner Chronicles tells the story of doomed pioneers and their struggle to survive. It keeps the reader at the edge of his seat and provides great detail of the period and the people. Highly recommended for history buffs who want to read history as though it's a novel instead of a dry textbook. Great photos, maps and graphics add to the text.

Frank Mullen has added an important book to the history of Donner Party. The tragedy has been the focus of writing since the spring of 1847, but Mullen has found a fresh way to make the story understandable and, perhaps more importantly, human.

The book is a daily chronolgy of the year that it took the party to travel from Illinois to California, and each two-page spread of this large book is carefully laid out and presents a mix of graphics and text. It is rewarding if read straight through, yet very accessible if your reading style is more "grazing" than linear.

Mullen clearly has done his homework. The sheer volume of detail and complexity in the story can be overwhelming, and Mullen includes the details that are needed to clarify and develop the people in the story. He includes wonderful quotes from diaries and supporting material, and drawings of interesting side issues such as an analysis of the probable shape of the "Pioneer Palace Car." Additionally, Marilyn Newton's photographs of the trail as seen today make it real for a modern reader.

When I have given this book as a gift to anyone with an interest in American History, it has been very well received. A truly great book.

What a great account of a tragic historical event. I felt like i was right there with them. The day -by-day account made for easy reading and let you understand the exact timeline of what the Donner party went through. Frank Mullen and the Reno-Gazette did a great job and should be very proud to keep this history alive.

The full-color, glossy photographs of major landmarks and points of interest along the Emigrant Trail from Springfield, MO to Johnson's Ranch in Bear Valley are stunning. The color photos, all taken by Marilyn Newton, are grouped together in the beginning of the book, comprising 20 slick pages of almost 50 photos. It's hard to believe that wagon ruts from over 150 years ago still exist in places; happily, our continuous farming, building and paving haven't obliterated all traces of the route that so many people rode--and walked--in order to reach California.

Portraits, maps, drawings and sketches from the period are interspersed with sepia-toned contemporary photographs, some taken by Newton and some by other photographers, and appear on every page of the book. "The Donner Party Chronicles" is visually rich and stimulating. The area around Donner Lake and the route the relief parties followed are depicted in all seasons of the year. Even in black-and-white, the photos of Donner Lake and the surrounding mountains demonstrate the ruggedness of the terrain and deeply impress upon the reader the hopelessness the members of the Donner Party must have felt upon being snowed-in at the lake.

The book reads like a journal that would have been kept by one of the emigrants traveling with the Donner Party. The text is reprinted from installments journalist Frank Mullen, Jr. published in the weekly newspaper "The Reno Gazette-Journal" over the course of an entire year. The daily routine followed, problems encountered, and decisions made by the Donner Party are chronicled in a concise manner. The entries are short, most three or four paragraphs in length.

One very interesting feature of "The Donner Party Chronicles" is the map of the Emigrant Trail that appears on every left-hand page of the book, with the progress of the doomed emigrants clearly marked with a red dot. As you read along through the book, you see on every other page exactly where the emigrants were as the day's events took place. I found this map extremely helpful and fascinating. Watching the movement of the Donner Party as they traveled on foot at the pace of slow, plodding oxen made me better able to understand how great an undertaking their overland journey was. I shared this book with my husband, my Dad and my father-in-law, and they enjoyed it almost as much as I did!

This book is well worth the price, for the interesting text as well as the terrific photos; you can easily find what you're looking for in the pages, as each page is dated and the day's entry fairly short.

Yesterday I flew to California from Charlotte,NC. I spent my time in a jetliner, sipping a cool beverage, watching a movie on my laptop and towards the end of my journey, occasionally pertaking the beauty of snow-capped jagged mountain tops of the Sierra Nevada.

But, it was so different a mere 150 years ago. One had to travel in animal driven wagons carrying enough food and other necessities for the long and perilous journey, which could be brutally and tragically cut short by wild animals, unfriendly Indians or any natural calamity. No maps, no rest areas or highways or motels. Luck was the chief ingredient of success those days. This book tells the story of one such journey, where the travellers ran out of luck when they chose to use a shortcut and got snowbound in the Sierra Nevadas. What followed was a struggle for survival with human emotions running raw.

This book narrates this story on a day by day basis and is adorned with a lavish collection of color as well as black and white photographs of the trail and artifacts from those days. It takes one back all those years when one almost feels like a member of the doomed party. I recommend it highly for anyone with or without any interest in the events described!

On a personal note, I found one photograph especially poignant where the proven and the shortcut trails clearly branched. I could feel the indecision in the minds of the emigrants which sealed their fate.

These girls are so over the top. I can't wait to see what happens to them in the last of the series.

This book was very good, much like the rest of the series. Except, I HIGHLY suggest reading the rest of the series before this one. You will be lost otherwise, but they're so good you'll finish them in a jiffy. I won't spoil anything, but it was wonderful. And great sensory details - my friend and I agreed you felt as if you were read and at a certain special event[not saying any names!] The only thing is the ending leaves you hanging, but I guess we'll just have to wait until May for the next one.

By the way, I'm 14 years old. I'm no mama or anything :]

Cheyenne Martin's suicide is a shock for everyone at Easton Academy, especially for Reed Brennan. Who would have thought that the ambitious, power-hungry and traditionalist Billings girl would take her own life after she is expelled? But Reed feels undeniable guilt. Apparently, Cheyenne had sent her an e-mail before she killed herself, blaming Reed for her decision to kill herself. As if that weren't bad enough, it appears that Cheyenne had arranged for the e-mail to be resent every Friday. Cheyenne is immediately forgotten -- at least by the other Billings girls -- when Easton students are ostracized and snubbed from this year's Legacy, the biggest and most highly-expected exclusive party of the year. Reed shows a great deal of leadership, which is why, in an unanimous vote, she becomes the president of Billings hall. Wonderful things happen after Reed becomes leader. She gets tons of perks, money she's never had in her life, and power she'd never before envisaged. But will her leadership be threatened when Noelle returns to Easton? Noelle was a senior last year, but after getting expelled from Easton and getting community service, she has to repeat her senior year, and her father threatens to sue if they don't let her back in Easton. Will Reed be able to get invites to this year's Legacy? On top of everything else, she and Josh are having problems. She wants to be a Billings girl and hang out with Noelle, he doesn't. There is also the fact that Reed has a crush on Dash, Noelle's ex, who is now in Yale. This brings a whole new conflict into her already complicated life. To top it all off, someone is watching her, messing with her. Is Cheyenne really dead, or -- oh horror of horrors -- has Ariana somehow escaped from the mental institution she now resides?

This new installment in the Private series brings new drama and conflicts for Reed. At first, the presidency seems like a dream come true. Then everything falls apart, and she asks herself if the presidency is a blessing... or a curse. The Billings girls are as silly and glitzy as ever. A new Starbucks-like coffee shop is built in the school, which will probably become their hangout. Reed does get a little annoying in this installment -- self-absorbed, always after Noelle like a lapdog -- and I wanted to slap her a few times, especially as far as her relationship with Josh is concerned. I won't spoil the reader by supplying details, but she deserves what she gets toward the end. This installment is as addictive and riveting as the ones before it (with the exception of Inner Circle), but I've discovered something about Kate Brian: she is not consistent with the secondary characters' physical description. Eye and hair colors change with each installment. Josh's eyes had been green in other books. In this book, they are blue. London had been described as blonde -- she is brunette in this one. At first, I thought it was me who couldn't keep up with the descriptions, but it appears that the author herself is confused. I wish Brian would keep a file of the smaller characters' descriptions, something like, "Josh -- curly blonde hair, green eyes," etc. Also, the thing with the e-mail isn't resolved in this book. No one knows who, if anyone, was sending it or if it indeed had been an auto-send e-mail. It's almost as if Brian completely forgot to resolve that issue, but maybe we'll just have to wait till the next book to find out. There is, like the other books, a huge twist at the end. I find it hilarious that Reed has gone through so much in such a short amount of time. If this much happened in real life, Easton would have been shut down because parents wouldn't pay to send their students to such a death and tragedy trap, and other boarding schools would probably quake at the thought of welcoming a scholarship student into their school. Other than that, I absolutely LOVE Legacy and I look forward to reading Ambition. Also, it appears that Brian will release a spinoff from this series, starring Ariana. I will definitely check that one out!

Brian has written another amazing book. I'm in love with the Private Series. It is one of my favorite series. It is well written and suspenseful I recommend it for all teen girls. Brian does an amazing job describing the events and the emotions of Reed and other characters. If you haven't read the other books in the series, read them first, it is basically a must to understand this book.

I don't think I will ever get tired of the Private series. Legacy is fantastic and quite different from the first few simply because Reed is in charge and is trying to stay sane while being a Noelle. I love Reed's relationship with Josh but am intrigued by her feelings for Dash so I look forward to the next book in the series to see what happens.

I have had this book for over 20 years....it is food-stained and dog-earred but remains my favorite in my 200+ cookbook library! Marlene's carrot cake recipe is the best of its type;very moist and flavorful. The bacon-stuffed cherry tomatoes are colorful,and always a hit as is the steak-in-a-bag recipe! My kids love the dilled shrimp and I make her chili recipe at least once a year. My daughter carved the whale-filled fruit bowl for one of my summer card parties, and it was quite a conversation piece!

A friend/caterer told me about Marlene Sorosky's cookbooks as 'never fail' recipes that are very good. I use her recipes all the time.

There are few cookbook authors whose recipes I use without testing them ahead of time, usually several times. Marlene Sorosky is actually the ONLY one. This book is no exception. Everything I have tried is marvelous, the first time and every time thereafter. Try it, you'll like it!

Instructions are easy to follow. Chili cheese bites are a favorite with my guests. Nice color pictures. Too bad it is out of print.

Everything in this book is wonderful and, if you follow her directions, turns out. We give this book to all our friends and family because it's so wonderful! Steak in a bag is to die for and I'm not a steak fan. Moby mellon is great, Chocolate Mouse cake is wonderful. Liver Pate is always a hit. Can't go wrong with this one.

Martha is a moth that is getting ready for her birthday bash. As she cooks the "food" for her party she gets really hungry. She ends up eating all but 2 socks! When her friends arrive she is really sad she has no food to serve them. Read and find out how they cheer her up!


The books was well written and just the right length for a picture book. The pages had lots of great illustrations to talk about while reading.


Yes. It's a neat way to learn about moths!

I read this to my children ages 8-3 and they all loved it. It is a very fun story with great illustrations that the kids keep asking me to read over and over. Highly recommended

My 19-month daughter loves animal books, and loves this book about Martha and her friends. Even though the distinction between moth and butterfly is still lost on her, I always get a giggle out of her when she realizes that Martha is eating clothing!

Both she and I love the wonderful watercolour illustrations, which remind of me the books I read as a child as opposed to some of the more disturbing drawings and cartoons children view today.

The story line is obviously meant for kids older than my daughter, but the colour and pictures keep even little ones entertained. I wish there were a simpler version of these characters in a laminated boardbook format for littler readers.

This book is a gem! Cambria's artwork along with this remarkably witty storyline create a warm and cozy "socksy" feeling for any reader. This is certainly a cuddle up by a fire, or relax under the neighbors apple tree read. I loved it, and would suggest it for any children's book enthusiast!

I am a member and founder of a childrens book club with 57 members that has been meeting once a month to lauch a new book for the last four years. I picked MARTHA MOTH as the celebrated new book of the month and arranged for all the matching feastivities to accompany for the books unveiling. Socks draped, cut out moths and a special dust drink. The reading was fantastic and the other parents and teachers were thrilled to have a book full of spice and imagination. The pictures were bold with creativity...a real feast for the eyes. I hope Martha has many adventures in the near future- as it was our book club shinning star thus far.